TRAIN OR CAR FOR ITALY/SWITZERLAND
 

Our family of four needs to get from Venice to Geneva in early August after a Mediteranean cruise. The two options being considered at this point are train or car. How difficult is it driving/navigating this route? Would we see significantly more by driving? Lastly, how beneficial would it be to have a car for the two full days we'll be in Geneva before flying home?

Thanks in advance.

I'd take a car.
August is a travelling month for Italians, and the trains will be full and hot.
The driving is rather easy and direct, with main highways. You can check out the route on www.viamichelin.com .
I don't know about the car in Geneva, sorry can't help you there.
The car provides privacy and gives you the possiblity to change your plans for lunch or dinner as you drive along the cities and villages.
Ciao
Melissa

There is no doubt that THREE of you would "see more" scenery if you drive..that is, more than the driver.

There is fast and frequent rail service between Geneva and Venice, including high speed Cisalpino service.

However, if you want the flexibility of a car that's another issue entirely. But don't forget that with the train you could also break the journey up along the way..depending on what your sightseeing interests are. Are you famililiar with the towns/geography along this route and are you particularly interested in any of those?
Knowing that might help us give you better advice.

Sorry, but if you plan ahead and are willing to make seat reservations in First Class the number of Italians traveling (as if NONE of them will be clogging the highways...uhhh, sure they won't) will be irrelevant and NO, all the trains in Italy aren't hot since many of them, especially on this route, are air conditioned.

I live in Switzerland and would not consider making that trip by road for a few reasons (1) the roads in August in both Italy and Switzerland are jammed, in particular the Gothhard tunnel, where you can be backed up for hours, esp if you are travelling on a Friday or a Sunday, (2) gas costs US $4.50 a gallon in Europe, (3) in your case, I think the drop off charges between the two countries will be quite high, and (4) a car in Geneva is not needed and is in fact a hindrance as parking is hard to find and expensive. Any day trips you want to make out of Geneva can be done by train or even better by ferry.

As noted, the Cisaplpino trains are really fast and fun and very scenic. The trip takes about 7.5 hours, which is much shorter than the drive even without traffic. I believe even second class is conditioned, although first class would be better as you can reserve seats together and the cars are generally less crowded. Take a look at rail.ch for timetables.

You could consider flying between the two, as there may be discount airlines with bargains. Run a search.

I think you should check out the drop fee for renting in Venice and returning the car in Geneva.
If the cost is no factor, then take the car. I enjoy driving the mountains and enjoy the flexibility a car lets me have in terms of routing and sightseeing along the way.

I investigaged the cost last summer for a rental in Germany and a return in Austria. The cost for the return: $200.
Two train tickets were less.

Doing Venice-Geneva by car cannot in anyway be as fast, nor as comfortable as by train, be it even in 2nd class.
You could even take a nighttrain from Venice to Geneva.

By car, if you'ld have 2 or 3 days, you could see some nice towns on the road, but this is presumably not what you want.

Furthermore, as stated by others, driving in August is not the right idea for having a good time; main holiday month for the Italians, for the Swiss, for the Germans,...

Navigation in itself is not difficult; the 2 best ways being: Milano, Torino/Aosta, Grand Saint-Bernard, Martigny, Vevey, Geneva as the fast way or Milano, Gravellona Toce, Domodossola, the Simplon Pass, Brig, Vevey, Geneva as the more leisurely way.

Frankly, and although I like to drive myself, I would do this trip by train, train during daytime if I would like to see the scenery, nighttrain if I would like to optimize my stay and travel while I sleep.

The car in Geneva... Geneva has an excellent urban transport system, is on a main railroad line and is a very walkable city. You wouldn't use the car to visit Geneva, nor Lausanne or any other town in the region. There is also an excellent train connection to the airport. If your hotel is somewhere in the city center, then you don't need a car. Furthermore, finding a parking place in Geneva City Center is a very time consuming occupation.
So, my advice in a nutshell:
- daytrain if you want to see the scenery,
- nighttrain if you want to optimize your time,
- no car in Geneva, walking and public transport.
Have a nice trip.